In the physical examination report, we often encounter some confusing technical terms, one of the words that appear frequently is "sinus rhythm".
When most people see this word, they can't help but beat the drum in their hearts: is this good or bad? Does it mean that I have a heart problem?
Is an irregular heartbeat a precursor to heart disease? These questions have probably been hovering in the minds of many people for a long time.
"Sinus rhythm" found during physical examination
Actually, sinus rhythm is not a scary word. In simple terms, it is the rhythm of the heart's normal work. Sinus rhythm is when the beating of the heart originates in the sinus node, which is a normal manifestation of heart rhythm.
In general, there are some natural fluctuations in sinus rhythm in healthy people, and the resting heart rate is usually between 60 and 100 beats per minute.
This fluctuation is determined by the body's physiological needs, such as a faster heart rate during exercise and a slower heart rate at rest.
However, when sinus rhythm is reported on an ECG, we should not take it lightly.
Because in addition to normal sinus rhythm, there are also some sinus arrhythmias that are common in physical examination, such as sinus tachycardia, sinus bradycardia, sinus arrhythmia, and sinus arrest.
This may sound scary, but in many cases there is a specific reason for it, and it doesn't have to be a big problem.
Let's start with sinus tachycardia. When an adult sinus rhythm exceeds 100 beats per minute, it is called sinus tachycardia.
This can occur during exercise, nervousness, fever, hyperthyroidism, anemia, blood loss, myocarditis, or certain medications.
Think about the rapid heartbeat after running or being reprimanded by your boss, is it a bit similar?
Look at sinus bradycardia. When the heart rate falls below 60 beats per minute, it is called sinus bradycardia.
However, there is no need to be nervous right away, according to statistics, about 15% of normal people will have a heart rate below 60 beats per minute at rest, especially some men, the elderly and athletes.
These people's hearts are inherently low in beating at a low rate due to long-term exercise or age.
Sinus bradycardia may also be associated with sinus node dysfunction, hypothyroidism, or certain medications such as β receptor blockers.
Therefore, after discovering this condition, it is still necessary to observe and treat it in conjunction with the specific medical history.
For sinus arrhythmias and sinus arrest, these are conditions that require further testing to confirm the diagnosis.
If sinus arrhythmias are found during an ECG, doctors will generally recommend further tests to confirm the diagnosis and avoid missing possible underlying problems.
The next time you see the word "sinus rhythm" in your physical examination report, you may wish to relax and understand it before making a judgment.
arrhythmia
The word arrhythmia may not be unfamiliar to many people, but what it means may not be clear.
In fact, arrhythmia, also known as arrhythmia, refers to a problem in the heart's electrical conduction system, resulting in an abnormal rhythm or frequency of the heart's beating. Sounds very professional, so let's take a closer look.
Arrhythmias can be classified by how fast or slow the heart rate is. Slower arrhythmias, such as heart rate below 60 beats per minute, including sinus bradycardia, sinus arrest, sick sinus syndrome, and sinus block;
If the heart rate exceeds 100 beats per minute, it is a tachyarrhythmia, such as premature beats, sinus tachycardia, atrial tachycardia, atrial flutter, atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardia, ventricular tachycardia, ventricular flutter and ventricular fibrillation.
Why do arrhythmias occur? There are many reasons for this. There are both physiological and pathological factors. In terms of physiological factors, age, diet, exercise, mood swings, sleep, etc. can all affect the heart rhythm.
Among the pathological factors, heart disease is the most common cause, such as congenital heart disease, coronary heart disease, hypertensive heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, heart valve disease, cardiomyopathy and myocarditis.
In addition, there are some systemic diseases, such as hyperthyroidism, anemia, water-electrolyte acid-base balance disorders, drug poisoning, and so on. These can trigger arrhythmias.
Speaking of symptoms, this is even more interesting. Symptoms of arrhythmias can range from mild to severe, depending entirely on the type and duration, as well as the severity of the underlying disorder.
Slight arrhythmias, there may not be any discomfort sensations, completely imperceptible. As the condition worsens, symptoms such as palpitation, shortness of breath, fatigue, etc., may become more pronounced.
Severe arrhythmias can be a major cause and may cause dizziness, blackouts, syncope, and may even lead to sudden death.
These sound scary, but don't worry, as long as we pay attention to physical examinations and detect problems in time, they can still be effectively prevented and treated.
I have a friend who usually doesn't think there is anything wrong, but a routine physical examination found that the heart rate was a little low, and later further examination found that it was sinus bradycardia.
The doctor explained that it could be related to his long stay up late and high work pressure. After adjusting my routine and mentality, the situation has improved a lot.
For another example, some people feel that their heartbeat is particularly fast after strenuous exercise, and it returns to normal after a little rest, which is actually a normal physiological response.
However, if you sit quietly and your heart suddenly accelerates, you should pay attention to it, which may be sinus tachycardia or other types of arrhythmias.
Whether or not to treat an arrhythmia depends on the situation
If you find that you have an irregular heartbeat, don't panic too much, but you can't ignore it. Patients with irregular heartbeats are advised to visit the cardiology department of a regular hospital for a comprehensive examination.
This includes physical examination, complete blood count, blood chemistry, electrocardiogram, Holter ECG, echocardiography, and coronary CT or imaging.
These tests help specialists confirm the diagnosis and identify the cause, so that they can prescribe a specific treatment plan, such as medication, surgery, or cardioversion.
Does a slight arrhythmia need to be treated? This is a case-by-case analysis. It is not possible to generalize.
Some irregular heartbeats are not actually a problem, such as drinking a little alcohol, smoking a cigarette, doing strenuous exercise, or being emotional, which can make the heart beat irregular.
In this case, the problem can be solved with a slight lifestyle improvement. For example, drink less, quit smoking, rest more, relax your mind, and so on.
However, if the arrhythmia is caused by pathological causes, such as paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, etc., then it needs to be taken seriously.
At this time, it is very important to go to the hospital for examination in time. Your doctor may recommend that you have a cardiac ultrasound, electrocardiogram and other tests to see the specific situation, and then cooperate with the doctor to treat the results of the examination, such as oral medications.
Irregular heartbeat is not as terrible as we think, the key is to face it correctly, check it in time, find the cause, treat it in a targeted manner and adjust your lifestyle.
After all, the heart is one of the most important organs in our body, and its health is related to our overall health.
If you have symptoms of irregular heartbeat, you may want to let go of your worries and go to the hospital for a detailed examination. In this way, the diagnosis can be clarified, and the heart can be reassured.
Paying attention to diet, work and rest in daily life, maintaining a happy mood, and reducing the impact of stress factors are very good for heart health.
Eat a healthy diet
Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and dietary habits have a huge impact on preventing heart disease. Eating well not only reduces the risk of heart disease, but also improves overall health and improves quality of life.
Vegetables and fruits are heart-healthy treasures. They are rich in vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber, and eating enough vegetables and fruits every day can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.
For example, studies have shown that eating an extra apple a day can reduce the risk of heart disease by nearly 12%. So, don't underestimate the old adage of an apple a day, it really has a scientific basis!
Whole grains are also good for the heart. The complex carbohydrates, dietary fiber, and a variety of trace elements in whole grains have positive effects on weight control, cholesterol lowering, and stabilizing blood sugar levels.
Studies have shown that people who eat three servings of whole grains a day have a 22% lower incidence of heart disease than those who don't eat whole grains regularly. So, it's definitely a good idea to have some oatmeal or whole wheat bread for breakfast.
Let's talk about lean meats and fish. They provide high-quality protein and essential fatty acids, especially omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, which are very beneficial for heart health.
One study noted that eating fish at least twice a week can reduce the risk of coronary artery disease. So wouldn't it be nice to go to the market on the weekend and buy some fresh fish to cook?
Low-fat or fat-free dairy products are also a great source for maintaining heart and blood vessel health. They are rich in calcium and vitamin D, nutrients that are essential for heart health.
Moderate intake of dairy products can reduce the risk of high blood pressure, which indirectly reduces the probability of heart disease. So, don't worry about dairy products making you fat, it's still good to consume it reasonably.
Reducing salt, sugar and saturated fat is also a key measure to prevent heart disease. Too much salt can lead to high blood pressure, which is one of the main risk factors for heart disease.
Excessive intake of sugar and saturated fat has been linked to problems such as obesity, diabetes and dyslipidemia, which are risk factors for heart disease. So, eating less potato chips and drinking less sugary drinks is definitely good for your heart.
Avoiding too many processed foods and highly refined carbohydrates is also an important strategy to protect your heart.
Processed foods and refined carbohydrates tend to be high in additives, sugars, and unhealthy fats, which can increase the risk of heart disease.
So, try to choose fresh ingredients and cook your own food, which is much healthier than eating takeout.